Employment policies and data

Ageing and Employment Policies

Did you know? Giving older workers the best opportunities to work would raise GDP per person across the OECD by 19% by 2050; this gain would be achieved if all OECD countries raised 50+ labor force participation to the levels of New Zealand & Iceland.

Giving people better choices and incentives to continue working at an older age is crucial for responding to the challenges of rapid population ageing. This is the clear message that emerges from the OECD’s review of policies to encourage greater labour market participation at an older age by fostering employability, job mobility and labour demand. This review was designed around the policy agenda that was presented in the OECD report, Live Longer, Work Longer, published in 2006. It consisted of both country case studies and cross-country reports that evaluate the impact of recent policy reforms and identify good-practice policy measures.‌ Based on the findings of the review, a set of OECD policy guidelines for encouraging and supporting employment at an older age were prepared and adopted in December 2015 as the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Ageing and Employment Policies. A brief of the Recommendation presents some key facts and figures, summarises the main policy lessons from the OECD review and provides and abridged version of the OECD Council Recommendation

data on ageing and employment

Opportunities to work after age 55 vary considerably across OECD countries

The late career scoreboard presents key quantitative indicators and compares each EU member situation in 2006, before the economic and social crisis, with 2016 as well with the EU and OECD averages. It is a useful barometer of the extent of labour market inclusion of older workers.

The 'country notes' present key policies to promote longer working lives implemented in each EU member over the past decade. An assessment of the extent to which each EU member has progressed in implementing effective measures is included.